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At age 12, a young girl from Bennettsville, South Carolina stood in her local church and told her pastor “God has called me to preach.”
Instead of telling her to wait or worse stay silent he handed her the pulpit the very next Sunday.
She was 14.
That girl was Nina Griggs Gunter.
That moment changed everything.
When the Call Comes Early God Makes Room for It
Dr. Nina Gunter didn’t chase titles.
She simply said yes to preaching to missions to service to leadership.
God opened doors.
And when those doors weren’t already open to women she became the first to walk through them.
- First woman ordained on the Joplin District in 1960
- First woman to receive an honorary doctorate from Trevecca Nazarene University
- First woman elected General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene (2005)
She didn’t climb a ladder. She climbed an altar.
She didn’t lead with ambition. She led with anointing.
A Life of Leadership that Spanned the Globe
Before she ever stepped on a global platform, she preached in small towns across Missouri, Tennessee, and South Carolina, often co-pastoring churches with her husband, Dr. Moody Gunter. But make no mistake: her calling was her own.
She led with boldness and joy.
She stepped into pulpits, boardrooms, mission fields, and eventually—the General Superintendency.
For 20 years, as Global NMI Director, she oversaw an increase in mission giving from $30 million to $62 million annually.
Over $1 billion raised for the Great Commission.
All under her watch.
For Women Asking, Is There a Place for Me in Ministry?
Dr. Gunter never apologized for being a woman in ministry.
She preached holiness, led missions, and mentored leaders with grace and grit.
“The ground at the foot of the cross is level.”
These weren’t just words.
They were her philosophy, her theology, and her vision for the Church.
If you’re a woman called to ministry—whether you’re 14 or 74—Dr. Gunter’s life tells you this:
✅ God does not need to apologize for calling you.
✅ You are not filling a gap—you are fulfilling a purpose.
✅ You are not next—you are now.
Not Just a First—A Foundation
Dr. Gunter wasn’t just the “first woman General Superintendent.”
She was a spiritual mother to thousands.
She was a scholar, a preacher, an administrator, and a visionary.
She authored books like Our Defining Moment and Holy Leadership in a Hectic World—because she didn’t just want to make history; she wanted to shape the future.
In 2009, the Church honored her with a Citation of Appreciation for 54 years of faithful ministry.
That same year, Trevecca established a scholarship and award in her name—ensuring that her legacy would continue to fund and form the next generation of servant leaders.
To Every Daughter of the Church Wondering “Will I Be Heard?”
Let Dr. Gunter’s story answer you with a resounding YES.
You are not too young.
You are not too old.
You are not too late.
You are exactly where God can use you.
If He called Nina at 12, if He raised her to global leadership by 67—
He can lead you into the fullness of your calling too.
So preach.
Lead.
Teach.
Go.
